Today’s job market is tough. With the unemployment rate hovering around 9 percent, every open position has more and more applicants. How do you stand out from the crowd? What can you do to ensure that your resume gets you an interview?

First things first, do not use a standard template. I repeat, do not use a standard template. As soon as a potential employer sees the generic, bland verbiage, you’ve just lost them. You have 30 seconds or less to grab a hiring manager or recruiter’s attention, so it’s important that you make an impact and tailor your resume for the job at hand.

DO create your brand

You are marketing yourself, right? So, you need to build a personal brand that highlights your skills and experience. Who are you and what can you do to help the company you want to work for?

DO start with a summary statement

A summary statement follows your contact information and puts your personal brand into words. Stay away from a general objective though, “To obtain a position … with room for growth …” That doesn’t tell the hiring manager anything about you except that you read a resume book or downloaded a template online. Make your summary strong and meaningful about how your attributes line-up with the position description.

DO your homework

Research the company you are applying for and make sure that your qualifications match up with the job requirements. Take the initiative to show in your resume that you’ve done your homework.

DO show your value

Rather than just list previous jobs and duties, focus on your accomplishments and highlight your core competencies. What did you bring to each position that you’ve had?

DO think like the employer

Write your resume with the hiring manager in mind. What do you think they are looking for? What would you look for if you were hiring for the position?

DO focus on your format

The layout of your resume does matter. Check your margins, spacing, and the ratio of text to white space. Keep font size between 10 and 12 points – never smaller!

DO proof your work

Grammatical errors, typos, and incorrect punctuation will ensure that your resume ends up in the garbage. Don’t rely on spell check either. Ask a trusted friend or mentor for that second set of eyes.

Personalizing your resume for each position that you apply for is essential in getting to the next step in the hiring process. Take initiative and you will be interviewing in no time. Good luck!

What have you done to differentiate yourself from the stacks and stacks of resumes? Did it work?

Andy Von Kennel is the co-founder of TruYuu, an online service that helps people present themselves as more than just a resume to employers. You can connect with Andy and the TruYuu team on Facebook and Twitter.